Xconomy Report: Stylin' Students

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Fashion isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind when you hear “Harvard,” but lately its Business School graduates have been stepping out in style. Xconomy has tracked down 19 young, fashion-focused internet companies with founders from the B-school. So what’s in the water? Harvard’s rising female business student population, an increasingly supportive environment for startups, and a retail industry that’s ready for innovation. Add that to the success of early fashion-tech startups like Gilt Groupe, and you have yourself a trend to watch.

In other innovation news …

MIT president Susan Hockfield is stepping down after seven years on the job. Local business leaders credit Hockfield for supporting entrepreneurs, recruiting pharma and tech companies to Kendall Square and steering MIT through the economic downturn.

Our deal of the week comes from the life sciences realm: Biogen Idec is acquiring Cambridge-based drug developer Stromedix in a transaction that could be worth upwards of $500 million.

And where will Gov. Deval Patrick be on Feb. 21? Try Ruby Riot, the second annual gathering of about a thousand techies, developers, and startup aficionados in Boston. Partygoers are asked to help at least one other person there, with the eventual goal being to lift the Boston tech scene to new heights.

The weekly roundup of business, technology and life science news from our partners at Xconomy.com airs every Friday on 89.7 Boston Public Radio.